International Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Now Abraham had grown old, was well advanced in age, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.

1Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

2So Abraham instructed his servant, who was the oldest member of his household and in charge of everything he owned, "Make this solemn oath to me

2One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.

3as a promise to the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you won't acquire a wife for my son from the Canaanite women among whom I'm living.

3Swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.

4Instead, you are to go to my country and to my family and acquire a wife for my son Isaac."

4Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”

5"What if the woman doesn't want to come back with me to this land?" the servant asked. "Shouldn't I have your son go to the land from which you came?"

5The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”

6"Make sure not to take my son there," Abraham replied.

6“No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there.

7"The LORD God of heaven, who brought me from my father's house and from my family's land, who spoke to me and promised me 'I will give this land to your descendants,' will send his angel ahead of you, and you are to acquire a wife for my son from there.

7For the LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.

8If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you'll be free from this oath to me. Just don't take my son back there!"

8If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”

9So the servant made a solemn oath to his master Abraham regarding this matter.

9So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.

10Then Abraham's servant took ten camels from his master's herd of camels and left on his journey with all kinds of gifts from his master's inventory. Eventually, he traveled as far as Aram-naharaim, Nahor's home town.

10Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled.

11As evening approached, he had the camels kneel outside the town at the water well, right about the time when women customarily went out to draw water.

11He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.

12That's when he prayed, "LORD God of my master Abraham, help me to succeed today. Please show your gracious love to my master Abraham.

12“O LORD, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

13I've stationed myself here by the spring as the women of the town come to draw water.

13See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water.

14May it be that the young woman to whom I ask, 'Please, lower your jug so that I may drink,' responds, 'Have a drink, and I'll water your camels as well.' May she be the one whom you have chosen for your servant Isaac. This is how I'll know that you have shown your gracious love to my master."

14This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”

15Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah appeared. She was a daughter of Milcah's son Bethuel. (Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.) She approached the well, carrying a jug on her shoulder.

15Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.

16The woman was very beautiful, young, and had not had sexual relations with a man. Going down to the spring, she filled her jug and turned for home.

16Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.

17Then Abraham's servant ran to meet her and asked her, "Please, let me have a sip of water from your jug."

17Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”

18"Drink, sir!" she replied as she quickly lowered her jug on her arm to offer him a drink.

18“Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink.

19When she had finished giving him a drink, she also said, "I'll also draw water for your camels until they've had enough to drink."

19When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.”

20She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and ran to the well to draw again until she had drawn enough water for all ten of the servant's camels.

20So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.

21The man stared at her in silence, waiting to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

21The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.

22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a half shekel and two bracelets for her wrists, weighing 10 shekels and presented them to her.

22Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists.

23He asked her, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

23“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?”

24"I am the daughter of Bethuel," she answered. "He's the son of Milcah and Nahor.

24“I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.

25And yes," she continued, "we have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place to spend the night."

25Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.”

26At this, the man bowed down and worshipped the LORD.

26The man bowed low and worshiped the LORD.

27"Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hasn't held back his gracious love and faithfulness from my master! The LORD has led me to the house of my master's relatives!"

27“Praise the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The LORD has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

28The young woman then ran ahead and informed her mother's household what had happened.

28The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened.

29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to the man and met him at the spring.

29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring.

30And so it was, as soon as he saw the nose ring and bracelets on his sister's wrists, and as soon as he heard what his sister Rebekah was saying about what the man had spoken to her, he went out to the man who was still standing by the camels at the spring!

30He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels.

31"Come on," Laban said. "The LORD has blessed you! So why are you standing out here when I've prepared some space in the house and a place for the camels?"

31Laban said to him, “Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?”

32So the servant went to the house and unbridled the camels. They provided straw and feed for the camels and water for washing his feet and those of the men with him.

32So the man went home with Laban, and Laban unloaded the camels, gave him straw for their bedding, fed them, and provided water for the man and the camel drivers to wash their feet.

33But when they had prepared a meal and set it in front of him, he said, "I'm not eating until I've spoken." "Speak up!" Laban exclaimed.

33Then food was served. But Abraham’s servant said, “I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I have come.” “All right,” Laban said, “tell us.”

34"I'm Abraham's servant," he said.

34“I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained.

35"The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become wealthy. He has provided him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.

35“And the LORD has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The LORD has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.

36My master's wife Sarah gave birth to my master's son in her old age, and Abraham has given him everything that belongs to him.

36“When Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son, and my master has given him everything he owns.

37My master made me swear this oath: 'You are not to select a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites in this land where I live.

37And my master made me take an oath. He said, ‘Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.

38Instead, you are to go to my father's household, to my relatives, and choose a wife for my son there.'

38Go instead to my father’s house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.’

39"So I asked my master, 'What if the woman won't come back with me?'

39“But I said to my master, ‘What if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?’

40"Abraham told me, 'The LORD, who is with me wherever I go, will send his angel with you to make your journey successful. So you are to choose a wife for my son from my family, from my father's household.

40He responded, ‘The LORD, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family.

41Only then will you be released from fulfilling my oath. However, when you come to my family, if they don't give her to you, you'll be released from fulfilling my oath.'

41Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.’

42"So today I arrived at the spring and prayed, 'LORD God of my master Abraham, if you wish to make the journey that I have traveled successful,

42“So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O LORD, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission.

43here I am standing by the spring. May it be that the young woman who comes out to draw water, from whom I request a little water from her jug to drink,

43See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”

44if she tells me to drink and also draws water for the camels, may she be the woman that the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'

44If she says, “Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too,” let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’

45"Before I had finished praying, along came Rebekah with her jug on her shoulder! She went to the spring and drew some water. I asked her to please let me have a drink.

45“Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and told me, 'Have a drink while I also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also gave my camels water to drink.

46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ So I drank, and then she watered the camels.

47"That's when I asked, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She replied, 'I'm the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore for him.' "So I gave her a ring for her nose and bracelets for her wrists.

47“Then I asked, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, and my grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.

48I bowed down and worshipped the LORD, and I praised the LORD God of my master Abraham, who led me on the true way to request the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

48“Then I bowed low and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife.

49So now, if you wish to show gracious love and truth toward my master, tell me so. But if not, tell me, so that I may go elsewhere."

49So tell me—will you or won’t you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I’ll know what to do next.”

50"Since this has come from the LORD," Laban and Bethuel both replied, "we cannot speak one way or another.

50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The LORD has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say.

51So here's Rebekah—she's right in front of you. Take her and go, so she can become a wife for your master's son, just as the LORD has decreed."

51Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed.”

52When Abraham's servant heard what they had said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.

52When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD.

53Then the servant brought out some silver and gold items, along with some clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother.

53Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother.

54He and the men with him ate and drank, and then they spent the night. When they got up the next morning, the servant requested, "Send me off to my master."

54Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight. But early the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”

55But her brother and mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days—at least ten—and after that she may go."

55“But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.”

56"Please don't delay me," the servant answered them. "The LORD has made my journey successful. Send me off so I can return to my master."

56But he said, “Don’t delay me. The LORD has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master.”

57But they said, "We'll call the young lady and see what she has to say about this."

57“Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.”

58So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" "I will go," she replied.

58So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her. And she replied, “Yes, I will go.”

59So they sent off their sister Rebekah, along with her personal assistant, Abraham's servant, and his men.

59So they said good-bye to Rebekah and sent her away with Abraham’s servant and his men. The woman who had been Rebekah’s childhood nurse went along with her.

60As they were leaving, they all blessed Rebekah by saying, "Our sister, may you become the mother of tens of millions! May your descendants take over the city gates of those who hate them."

60They gave her this blessing as she parted: “Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies.”

61Then Rebekah and her young servant women got up, mounted their camels, and followed Abraham's servant, who took Rebekah and went on his way.

61Then Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and followed the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and went on his way.

62Later on, as Isaac was returning one evening from Beer-lahai-roi (he had been living in the Negev ),

62Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.

63Isaac went out walking in a field. He looked up, and all of a sudden there were some camels coming.

63One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming.

64Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel

64When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel.

65and asked the servant, "Who is that man coming in the field to meet us?" "That's my master," the servant told her. So she reached for a veil and covered herself.

65“Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?” she asked the servant. And he replied, “It is my master.” So Rebekah covered her face with her veil.

66Then the servant informed Isaac about everything he had done.

66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

67Later, Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah and married her. Isaac loved her, and that's how he was comforted following the loss of his mother.

67And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.